Territory



'N M d l.) & 0 0 e DI ARNETT 2Sheets Sheet 1.

DAM. No. 422,901. Patented Mar. 11. 1890.

5 5 x f r A .gl *Y a "inv d ib, x c

7%/577/@55 6.5 22j/Luzi?? 2 T ml E N. ...m AD D W Patented Mar. l1, 1890.

N. PETERSv Phulwllhagrlpur, Washington', 0.6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

IVILLIAM D. ARNETT, `OF PARMA, IDAHO TERRITORY. p

DAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,901, dated VMarch 11, 1890.

Application filed July 12, 1889. Serial No. 317,343. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. ARNETT, of Parma, in the county of Ada and Terri* tory of Idaho, have invented certain Improvements in Dams, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention is directed to the construction of fixed dams in a cheap, rapid, and durable manner; and it consists, essentially, in a dam composed of a series of blocks or sections each provided with projections or dowels to enter thenext and with holes passing' vertically through the body and the dowels, each hole serving not only to receive the dowel of the next section, but also to receive vertical rods, by which the sections are guided in their descent to their proper positions.

In the accompanying1 drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of one of my plan sections or blocks. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same on the line x Qc. -Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of a dam constructed on my plan. Fig. et is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing one method of forming the foundation. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the dam, looking upstream. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the guide-rods.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent a series of rigid blocks or sections, which may be of any desired form and dimensions, provided they are adapted to be held together in a compact body. I prefer to construct them, as shown, of an oblong rectangular form. Each section, as shown, consists of an external box or case a, solidly filled with gravel, stone, cement, or other suitable material. The sections may, however, be molded in solid form from cement, beton, or any of the wellknown compounds employed in the production of artificial stone. Each section is provided with one or more dowels or projections b, rising from its upper surface, and with a vertical hole b', extending upward through the body from the lower side and through the dowel. The only essential requirement in this connection is that the opening shall extend without interruption through the body of the block, and also through the dowel, and to this end the tubular dowel may be constructed and applied in any manner the equivalent of that shown. I prefer to construct the dowels, as shown, inthe form of conical metal tubes flanged at the lower end, each of sufficient length to extend entirely through the body of the section in which it is secured,and also upward into or through one or more sections above. The introduction of the cement or other filling will usually be sufiieient to secure the dowel in position with the requisite firmness. The dowels and openings are made of such size and form that when the sections are laid one upon another the dowels of each will enter the holes of the one next above. In constructing a dam with these sections I provide a suitable bed or foundation and sink the bottom course of sections thereon. Before or after placing the bottom course in position I introduce into theirvertical openings the vertical rods or` guides D,which terminate at or near the surface of the water. These rods serve as guides to enter the openings of the succeeding sections and direct them downward to the exact positions required, so that they will lit over the dowels of the preceding sections. I commonly construct these guides, as shown in Fig. 7 each with a series of spring-arms d to rest on top of the tubular dowels to sustain the guide in position. rlhe spring-arms will yield and permit the guide to be Withdrawn.

I prefer to carry my dam from the shore ends upstream, that it may the better resist the pressure of the water. p Vtfhen this is done, the central sections may be of tapered or wedge-like form, as shown in Fig. 4:.

C represents the foundation. X'Vhen the bottom is of sand or other soft material, I ordinarilyconstructa skeleton frame composed of timbers c, bolted or lashed together, and to this frame I lash or otherwise secure a matting c', composed of brush or similar material.4 Owing to the open or skeletondike character of the frame the mat is permitted to sink through and within the same under the Weight of the mass above, so as to conform to and rest firmly upon thesupportingsurface beneath. I am aware that a foundation composed of logs laid closely together upon the bottom and covered with matting is old. Under such construction, however, the matting was supported Wholly by the tim- IOO I claim isl. The Vimproved block or section fora dem, having the projections on one face and the openin gs extending through the body and the projections, as shown.

2. The section for a dam, consisting of the box o1' body, the filling thereimand the tubes extended through and beyond the lling, as shown.

3. In ztdmn, n series of sections, each having a vertical opening therethrough, and L tubular projection forming a continuation of said opening, the projections of each section being seated in the openings of the next.

4. In combination with the section having vertical holes and tubular projections, the guide-rod provided with yielding arms, Whereby the assemblage of the blocks is permitted.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 27th day of May, 1889, in the presence of two attesting Witnesses.

\VILLIAM D. ARNETT.

Witnesses:

C. S. SCOTT, ERNEST BOONE. 

